Pottery press



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 D PIKE. POTTERY PRESS.

No. 258,865. Patented May30, 1882.

N. PETERS. PimlwUthogr-lphcr, wuhin ton. n.c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model) 'D. PIKE, POTTERY PRESS.

Patented May BO, 1882.

. UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFIC DANIEL PIKE, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA,ASSIGNOR on ONE-HALF .To

- M. J. DEADY, on SAME PLACE.

POTTERY-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,865, dated May 30,1882.-

Application filed March 15,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL PIKE, of New Orleans, in the parish ofOrleans, and in the State of Louisiana, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Pottery-Presses and 1 do hereby declare that thefollowingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the "letters of referencemarked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for molding and pressingpotteryware; and it has forits objects to provide certain improved meanswhereby the clay may be conveniently pressed in the mold and properlyshaped and the molded article delivered from the mold afteritisfinished,as more fully hereinafter specified. These objects I attain by theapparatus and mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved apparatus;Fig; 2, a top view, and Fig. 3 a side elevation, of the same.

The letterA indicates the bed or table of the machine, and B the mold,which is ofsuitable shape and attached to the bed or table at itscenter. The said mold is constructed of metal, and is provided with arectangular base, 0, through the corners of which are passed the boltsor screws D, by means of which the mold is secured to the bed or table.The mold is provided with a movable false bottom, E, which is attachedto the upper end of a vertical rod, F, which passes through a guide, G,and is connected with a lever, H, fulcrumed to the front of the machinebelow the bed or table, by means of which the false bottom may beelevated in the mold in order to discharge the article after it isfinished.

The letter I indicates a latch, the object of which is to hold the falsebottom up while the molded article is being removed. The bed or table atits sides is provided with uprights K, which form vertical guides for across-bar, L,

which is provided with a'screw, M, which carries at its lowerendaplnnger, N, of a shapeto correspond With the interior of the article tobe molded, and also with a hand-wheel, P, by

means of which the shaft and plunger may be turned. The plunger on itslower surface is provided with a series of beveled faces of suchconfiguration as to work the clay to the sides of the mold \vheninoperation, in imitation of the manner of workingthe clay upon a potterslathe, facilitating the molding of the article and insuringa perfectarticle. Theplunger,wheel, and cross --bar are counterbalanced by theweights R, which are attached to the ropes S, passing over the pulleysT,and secured to the cross-bar, so as to permit the cross-bar to bereadily raised or lowered. i

The letter U indicates two pins, whereby the cross-bar may be fasteneddown while theplunger is in operation.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The clay is placed in themold and the crossbeam drawn down and fastened by means of the pins. Theplunger is then forced into the mold by rotating the screw in the properdirection, the peculiarly-shaped bottom of the plunger working the claytoward the sides and pressing it into shape. When properly formed thebeam is elevated, and the article is forced out of the mold by elevatingthe false bottom by means of the foot-lever.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to securebyLetters Patent,

g plunger having a series of beveled faces on 1ts bottom, substantiallyas and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

in presence of twowitnesses,this 27thday of February, 1882.

I DANIEL PIKE.

Witnesses:

WM. H. PASCOE, M. J DEADY.

